Airship



Jan. 19', 1926.

E. H. VAN VALKENBERG AIRSHIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1925 Jan. 19 1926.

E. H. VAN VALKENBERG AIRSHIP Filed April 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eber H van yaw/ i2 Patented Jan. 19 192 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBEB H. VAN VALKENBERG, OF MONROE, WASHI ENGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OSCAR SILVERSTEIN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

AIBSHIP.

Application filed April 27, 1925. Serial No. 26,081.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBER H. VAN VAL- KENBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Monroe, inflSnoh omish County and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Airships, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in air ships and particularly to the control cabin or signal tower carried preferably on the uppermost deck or top of the ship or dirigible balloon for the accommodation of the officers and crew.

The invention involves structures embodied in the construction of the walls and framework of the cabin, and" also in the antennae supported or carried on the exterior of the cabin for use in sending and receiving radio or electro-magnetic waves.

Due to natural causes, as is well known, when the airship is proceeding in cold climates, or because of high altitudes, the temperature being low, the passengers or crew are subjected to discomfort and inconvenience because of the cold. When rain, snow or sleet are encountered in the passage of the ship, the exposed portions of the cabin, as Well as other parts ofthe ship, frequently become frosted or covered with an icy coating which also lowers the temperature of the cabin to an undesirable point, and is likely to interfere with the operation of the radio. equipment or signal 35 ing'apparatus. 4,

' By the utilization of my invention in its hysical embodiment means are provided or effectively heating the interior of the cabin and its structure for the purpose of raising the temperature and maintaining it at a desirable point for the accommodation of the crew and also to prevent the formation of an icy coating on the exterior of the structures.

.To this end the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with the best mode I have thus far devisedfor the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the cabin structure and superstructure on the top or upper deck of the aircraft.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the cabin of Figure 1. 1

F'gure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the cabin and a portion of the upper deck of the aircraft.

The aircraft as shown embodies a dirigible balloon or lighter-than-air ship, of

which the numeral 1 designates the upper deck which is reached from below through a vertically disposed hatchway 2 having a gangway or ladder made up of cleats or cross bars 3 in usual manner. The interior compartment of the cabin is designated 4 and the structure is provided with suitable doors D and windows W. The deck 5 of the cabin is formed by the outer wall of the double-wall hull of the ship, and the hatchway 2 is normally closed by a hatch or hinged door 6 the hinges 7 of which are arranged so that when closed the hatch will be flush with the deck 5. When opened the hatch or doormay lean against a stanchion bar 8 or other support fixed to the deck 5 of the cabin.

--As best shown in Figure 3 the cabin walls are composed of inner walls 9 and outer walls 10 or' other tubular formation may be used to provide an air space within the walls of the cabin, and the same structural formation is present in the upper deck or top wall of the cabin where the-inner wall is indicated at 11 and the outer wall atlQ.

. These double walls or tubular structures in the walls provide air spaces 1n WhlCh theair is adapted to be'heated' by the use *of a heating element not only for heating the interior compartment 4 but also for the purpose of raising the temperature as desired of the structure itself.

Preferably electric heating elements are employed which are provided with w1res or cables 13 that enter the space between the walls from below through tubular supports or casings 14, and the wires are distributed in proper .manner ,for conducting the electricity to the desired locations.

' Within the interior 4 of the cabin are arranged a number of vertical braces or tubular uprights, three of which are indicated in Figure 3.as 15g 16 and 17. The hollow posts or columns are fixed to the deck 5 at their lower ends and by means of braces 18 and it will be apparent that these uprights f or braces of the cabin are utilized asradiators of heat for heating the interior of the cabin and also the walls thereof. Theseveral electric circuits indicated by the wires' or conductors shown diagrammatical y in the upper portion of the cabin are controlled from the boxes and 21 in usual manner, from which boxes the circuits lead to the various electric devices;

. Carried omt-h'e top or upper deck of the cabin are shown three longitudinally disposed supports 22, 2 3 and 24, which are preferably made up of tubular members or pipes upon which the transversely arranged antenna wires 25 are supported for broadcasting or receiving radio messages.

The several pipe-supports are aflixed to the cabin upper-deck with their ends 26 extending through the deck itself as shown in Figure 3, and within the tubular supports or pipes are arranged coils 27 to form electric heating elements for these supports,

. the wires or conductors for the electricity entering the cabin through the open ends 26 of the supports.

From thls description taken in connection with my drawings it will be apparentthat the several tubular structures may be and are equipped with interior heating elements from which the heat is transmitted to the enclosing structures and then radiated from these inclosing structures for the purpose described. The control boxes 20, and 21 are locatedin convenient positions for ready access of the operator, and the varlous other accessories or requisites are provided in the l-lltQIlOI" of the cabin for the accommodation and convenience of the oflicers or crew.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent is l 1. The combination with a' cabin having double walls and electrical conductors between the double walls, of upright, tubular braces for the cabin having electrical heating elements therein, electric circuits including said conductors and heating elements, and control devices for said circuits.

2. The combination with a cabin having tubular portlons constructed in its walls and electrical conductors in said portions, of tubular radiators comprising upright posts and means for rigidly connecting said posts with the cabin structure, electric heating elements in said radiator, electric circuits including said conductors and heating elements, and control devices for said circuits. 3. The combination with a cabin structure forming a signal tower, of a longitudinally disposed tubular brace exterior of said cabin, and radio equipment supported from said brace, an electrical heatmg element in said brace, and means for controlling the admission of electric currents to said heating element.

4. The combination with a cabin structure 'ofa series of longitudinally disposed, tubular, exterior braces having their open ends located in the interior of the cabin, said braces adapted for support of radio equipment, electrical heating elements in said braces, and means for controlling the admission of electric currents to said heating elements.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

EBER H. VAN VALKENBERG. 

